Fully insulated heat sealed soft cooler bag and method

ABSTRACT

An insulated cooler bag and method comprising at least two separate and independent sealed compartments with each compartment composed of a flexible resistant plastic with the two compartments joined to form sealed seams along the bottom end of the bag and along opposite sides of the bag further comprising a zipper connected to each compartment at an end corresponding to the top end of the bag for opening and closing the bag based upon the direction of movement of the zipper relative to the side seams such that when the zipper is opened the sealed compartments expose a space therebetween corresponding to the interior of the bag into which items may be inserted for storage and when the zipper is closed the bag the sealed compartments overlap to form a double layer of thick foam cell insulation surrounding the interior of the bag and further comprising a drain plug connected to the interior of the bag.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an insulated cooler bag and method for insulating a cooler bag so that its interior is able to retain an inside temperature of below 40° for long periods of time to preserve perishables stored in the cooler bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional cooler bags are not properly insulated to maintain the temperature inside the bag of below 40° to preserve food perishables stored in the cooler bag and are prone to leak due to the material composition of the bag and the method of construction in insulating the bag. In addition, conventional cooler bags tend to leak and do not have drain valves for draining or cleaning the bag. Bag leakage causes the interior temperature of the bag to rise which increases the tendency for further leakage and decreases the period of time for preserving the food perishables.

Insulated cooler bags are growing increasingly popular in the marketplace particularly for preserving fresh fish or other food perishables. An insulated cooler bag provides a portable means to protect and store fish or other food perishables and to transport the stored food product while fresh. To preserve fresh fish and other food perishables, the storage temperature inside the cooler bag should be maintained within a temperature range of below 40° for a time period necessary to bring the food perishables as fresh product to the marketplace.

The cooler bag of the subject invention is insulated and constructed of a material composition to render the bag substantially non-porous and to form a vapor lock for retaining the temperature within the interior of the bag in a temperature range of below 40° for long periods of time after ice is place into the bag. It is also difficult to handle a conventional insulated cooler bag since it will leak and has no drain.

The insulated cooler bag of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior art designs by maintaining the temperature within the interior of the bag for a time period of at least about 48 hours (two days). Moreover the cooler bag of the subject invention is essentially leak proof, easy to handle and has a drain plug which includes an elongated drain fitting for readily draining water from the bag. The drain also provides for easy cleaning in that water can be flushed through the inside of the bag as well as a way to maintain the integrity of the ice in the bag by draining water at regular intervals. Also, the soft cooler bag presents a more variable, flexible and easier to use load and unload product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The insulated cooler bag of the present invention comprises at least two separate and independent compartments with each compartment being composed of a flexible water resistant plastic, preferably polyvinyl chloride, enclosing a layer, preferably in the form of a sheet, of thick closed cell foam, with each of the two compartments being joined along a first end of the bag for forming a closed sealed seam at such end and being joined along opposite sides of the bag to form closed sealed side seams on each opposite side of the bag and further comprising a zipper disposed along a second end of the bag opposite said first end with the zipper engaging each compartment along said second end; wherein the compartments lie in an overlapping relationship to one another for forming a double layer of thick foam cell insulation surrounding a space between said compartments representing the interior of the bag such that when the zipper is open the compartments are separated from one another with the interior space exposed through said open zipper for storing items such as fresh fish and ice and when the zipper is closed the second end of the bag is sealed fully enclosing the stored items and with said bag further including a drain plug communicating with the interior of the bag having a cover for opening the drain plug so that water may be drained from the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the insulated cooler bag of the present invention showing the zipper in the open position;

FIG. 2A is a cross section of the insulated cooler bag of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2A-2A in FIG. 1 showing two separate sealed compartments, one each side of the cooler bag, each having a layer of thick foam cell insulation enclosed within the compartment;

FIG. 2B is a cross sectional view of the insulated cooler bag of FIG. 1, similar to FIG. 2A, with the zipper shown in the closed position of the bag showing each compartment on opposite sides thereof in an overlapping relationship;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cooler bag of FIG. 1 with handles shown extending from each side of the cooler bag to permit the cooler bag to be lifted by the handles; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the bag shown in FIG. 1 showing the drain, drain cover, hose fitting and coupling members for attaching the drain to the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the cooler bag of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3 and 4 inclusive. The cooler bag 10 comprises two compartments 12 and 14, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B with each compartment 12 and 14 enclosing a layer of insulation preferably in the form of a solid sheet of closed cell foam insulation 15 and 17 with each sheet of insulation 15 and 17 being essentially identical in composition and selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, polyurethane or expanded polystyrene and having a minimum thickness of about one inch in dimension. Each insulation sheet 15 and 17 should consist of a multiplicity of closed cells of relatively high density.

The bag 10 and each of its two compartments 12 and 14 is formed from a composition of flexible plastic, preferably fiber interlaced polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The compartments 12 and 14 of the bag 10 are formed with each compartment surrounding a sheet of insulation 15 and 17, preferably by heat sealing the perimeter of each of the compartments 12 and 14 so that one or more insulation sheet(s) 15 and 17 is fully enclosed within the heat sealed compartments 12 and 14. The insulation sheets 15 and 17 should preferably be at least one inch in thickness. The bag 10 is completed by heat sealing one end of each of the compartments 15 and 17 to one another to form a first heat sealed end 18, corresponding to the bottom end of the bag 10. The sides of each of the compartments 12 and 14 are also heat sealed to one another to form heat sealed side seams 19 and 20 corresponding to each opposite side of the bag 10.

A zipper 25 comprising a first and second row of teeth 26 and 27 and a pull member 28 is connected at the end 30 of the bag 10 representing the top end of the bag 10. Each row of teeth 26 and 27 extends from a strip of material 29 and 31 affixed at an end, corresponding to the top end 30 of the bag 10, on opposite sides of each compartment 12 and 14, with the zipper 25 interconnecting each of the two rows of teeth 26 and 27, in a conventional manner, for opening and closing the bag 10 based upon the direction the zipper pull member 28 is being pulled. The zipper 25 is preferably of conventional marine grade so that when the pull member 28 reaches the side 19 of the bag 10, as is shown in FIG. 2B, the bag 10 is fully closed. With the zipper 25 in the fully closed position, the bag 10 is fully closed, and each of the compartments 12 and 14 lie in an overlapping arrangement to one another forming a double layer of thick foam cell insulation which surrounds the interior 32 of the bag 10 to form a heat sealed lock which protects the bag 10 from losing heat. In this closed position the interior 32 of the bag 10 is completely heat sealed to maintain the temperature within the bag at the temperature of stored ice so that the bag does not melt for a prolonged time period of time covering at least 24 hours, preferably 48 hours, depending on the outside ambient temperature.

The bag 10 is opened by pulling the pull member 28 toward the side 20 of the bag 10 as shown in FIG. 1 for filling the interior 32 of the bag with items for storage at a controlled temperature such as fresh fish and ice. FIG. 2A shows the bag 10 in its fully open position.

The bag 10 further includes a drain plug 35 which is preferably located at one corner of the bag 10. The drain plug 35 communicates with the interior 32 of the bag 10 through an elongated drain fitting 36 as shown in FIG. 4 representing a relatively long hollow conduit threaded at one end 37 for attachment to a threaded nut 38 within the interior 32 of the bag 10. The fitting 36 extends through an opening 39 in the compartment 12 of the bag 10 and is locked into place by manually attaching the nut 38 over the threaded end 39 of the fitting 36. Sealing spacers 44 on opposite sides of the compartment 12 prevent leakage. A close fitting manual snap on plastic cap 40 is placed over the open end 42 of the hollow fitting 36 for closing and opening the drain plug 35. The drain plug 35 with the elongated fitting 36 extends outwardly from the bag 10 a distance of least two inches which makes it easy to drain and clean the bag 10.

The bag 10 also includes straps 45 and 46 in the form of handles with each strap 45 and 46 folded over to form loops 47 and 48 located at the top end 30 of the bag 10 on opposite ends adjacent the side seams 19 and 20. The straps 45 and 46 have an extended length of preferably at least one foot long which makes it easy to hoist the bag 10 aboard a fishing vessel when the bag is filled with fresh fish and ice into an elevated location above the cockpit of the vessel to conserve space. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An insulated cooler bag comprising at least two separate and independent sealed compartments on opposite side of the bag with each compartment composed of a flexible water resistant plastic fully enclosing a sheet of thick closed cell insulated foam with the two compartments being heat sealed along a first end thereof corresponding to the bottom end of the bag and heat sealed along opposite sides of the bag to form sealed side seams on each of the opposite sides of the bag and further comprising a zipper having a first and second row of teeth with each row of teeth being affixed to an end of each compartment, corresponding to the top end of the bag, with the zipper interconnecting each of the two rows of teeth for opening and closing the bag based upon the direction the zipper is moved relative to the adjacent side seams of the bag such that when the zipper is moved to open the bag the sealed compartments are separated from one another exposing a space therebetween corresponding to the interior of the bag into which any desired items may be inserted for storage and when the zipper is moved to close the bag the two rows of teeth interlock closing the bag with the sealed compartments overlapping one another in an arrangement surrounding the interior of the bag forming a double layer of thick foam cell insulation enclosing the items stored in its interior and with said bag further comprising a drain plug communicating with the interior of the bag and having a cover for opening and closing the drain plug.
 2. An insulated cooler bag as defined in claim 1 wherein the drain plug comprises an elongated drain fitting extending through one of the sealed compartments in communication with the interior of the bag and having a relatively long hollow conduit threaded at one end for attachment to a fastener within the interior of the bag.
 3. An insulated cooler bag as defined in claim 2 wherein the items stored in the interior of the bag comprise fresh fish and ice.
 4. An insulated cooler bag as defined in claim 3 wherein each sheet of insulation is essentially of identical composition selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, polyurethane or expanded polystyrene.
 5. An insulated cooler bag as defined in claim 4 wherein each sheet of insulation has a minimum thickness of about one inch in dimension.
 6. An insulated cooler bag as defined in claim 4 wherein each compartment is composed of a plastic material composed of polyvinyl chloride.
 7. An insulated cooler bag as defined in claim 6 further comprising straps in the form of handles with each strap folded over itself to form loops located at the top end of the bag adjacent each the side seams thereof for lifting the bag.
 8. A method for insulating a cooler bag adapted for the placement of ice cubicles within the bag comprising the steps of: forming the bag with two separate and independent compartments, with each compartment composed of a flexible water resistant polyvinyl chloride composition covering an inner layer in the form of a sheet of thick closed cell foam insulation; joining the two compartments to form closed sealed seams along the edges of each compartment; arranging the two compartments in an overlapping relationship to one another for forming a double layer of thick foam cell insulation surrounding a space between said compartments representing the interior of the bag; and attaching a zipper to each of said compartments along one end of the bag for opening and closing the bag such that when the zipper is open the two compartments are separated from one another for exposing an interior space between the two compartments to store fresh perishable items under ice and when the zipper is closed the bag is sealed for enclosing the stored items and for forming a vapor lock for retaining the temperature within the interior of the bag at a temperature of below 40° for long periods of time; and interposing a drain plug in communication with the interior of the bag for draining water intermittently from the bag as a way of maintaining the integrity of the ice. 